Feel strongly about these letters, or any other aspects of the news? Share your views by emailing us your Letter to the Editor at [email protected] or filling in this Google form. Submissions should not exceed 400 words, and must include your full name and address, plus a phone number for verification There has been much discussion of what Hong Kong can do to revive its economy in recent months. I share Hong Kong tourism minister Kevin Yeung Yun-hung’s view that money is
not the silver bullet to lure global stars such as singer Taylor Swift to the city. After all, Hong Kong currently does not even
have the facilities to host such blockbuster concerts.
Unfortunately, instead of simply acknowledging these gaps in Hong Kong’s mega-events management ecosystem as a matter of fact, some, seemingly in a case of sour grapes, have chosen instead to take aim at Singapore, which has hosted A-list pop acts such as
Swift and Coldplay.
Cue the same old tired stereotypes of a “dull” Singapore needing to jazz up its image (“How a truly ‘mega’ event in Hong Kong could silence Article 23 critics”,
March 10) because, it is argued, the Lion City, unlike Hong Kong, lacks “lacks genuinely home-grown, authentic cultural appeal” (“Hong Kong needs a cultural wave to match South Korea’s hallyu”,
February 11). Are these commentators aware of the new wave sweeping through Singapore’s cultural, creative and entertainment economy over the last couple of decades?
Another trope, employed by former Executive Council convenor
Bernard Chan and former Hong Kong chief executive
Leung Chun-ying, is of how fiscally prudent Hong Kong would never spend public funds without proper accountability and tangible benefits for the community – like Singapore is accused of having done with the F1 Grand Prix or the
exclusivity deal with Taylor Swift. Well, what about the
Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macau Bridge and the
West Kowloon Cultural District, known more for their massive cost overruns than their public utility?
Even a student saw fit to lecture Singapore, Asia’s only AAA-rated economy, in the Young Post (“Taylor Swift brought tourism dollars to Singapore, but she is not a long-term economic plan”,
March 11), dismissing the deal with Swift as a “lucky” bet and saying “there are much better ways to rejuvenate the economy in the long run than paying megastars to hold events”.
Singapore reportedly paid Swift US$2-3 million so that she wouldn’t perform elsewhere in Southeast Asia on her Eras tour, but gained, according to estimates, hundred times more in tourism receipts, not to mention strategic benefits.
Singapore has long preferred to play the flute of multilateralism over ethno-nationalism. It should therefore come as no surprise to anyone who understands what makes the multicultural Lion City tick that world-renowned artists like Taylor Swift and bands like Coldplay, as well as broad a range of multinational companies, feel very much at home in the city state.
John Chan, Singapore
Athletes would benefit from more visibility
I refer to
the letter, “At Olympic trials, let Hong Kong swimmers make waves before cheering crowds” (April 18). Your correspondent made a good case for unlocking the customary closed-door competition for those trying to qualify for the Olympics, allowing fans a better view than they would have from their television screens.
This would be particularly good for up-and-coming athletes, allowing them to acquaint themselves with the hardship and commitment involved in the life of a serious sportsperson. Meanwhile, cheering audiences would surely fuel athletes’ competitive spirit.
There would be an opportunity to sell snacks and souvenirs at such events, and perhaps even hold autograph-signing sessions. This visibility might be good business for athletes and a training ground in marketing themselves. After the competition, athletes can continue to have private coaching sessions.
Years ago, there was a
heartbreaking case of a former Asian Games rower. She ended up working at a restaurant as a waitress and became involved with one of the patrons, but later tried to blackmail him and was sentenced to jail for the crime. It highlighted how a career in sports can end in bitterness and sadness.
It’s important to give our athletes a chance to build financially viable careers.
Edmond Pang, Fanling
